Saturday, March 30, 2013

Senate Ag Committee approves bill creating Oklahoma Cottage Food Law

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved legislation Monday to allow citizens more flexibility in selling certain products made in the home directly to consumers. Senate Bill 920, by Sen. Ron Justice, would create the Oklahoma Cottage Food Law.“This bill will give private citizens the ability to sell homemade products that don’t have to be heated or refrigerated, like jams and jellies, at farmers markets, church festivals and other locations,” said Justice, R-Chickasha. “Currently, such products have to be made in a commercial kitchen and individuals have to have a commercial license to sell them. Many people trying to start a small business don’t have the funds to rent or buy a store location that has a commercial kitchen so they need to be able to sell products made in their home kitchen. This new permit would allow them to do just that as long as their products are labeled.”The bill pertains to non-time/temperature control for safety food products including baked goods, jams and jellies, candies, dried mixes, spices, some sauces and liquids, pickles and acidified foods. These homemade goods could be sold at farmers markets, roadside stands, church and community bazaars and festivals among other places. They just could not be sold at retail or grocery stores, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, or wholesalers.The products would have to have labels that included the address and contact information of the maker, a list of the ingredients in the product and a disclosure that is was prepared in a home.The application fee for a cottage food production operation permit would be $175 with a renewal fee of $125.SB 920 will now go before the full Senate.